RoundTable: How To Fix The Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan is the center of debate in Atlanta. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

One way or another, fans of the Atlanta Falcons knew that change was coming after their horrific loss to the New York Giants. Just a few days later, the team has lost defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder (departed to Auburn University) and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey (hired today as the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars).

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff can be credited with the rebuild that led the team to its finest four-year span in franchise history, but now he faces a more difficult and delicate task: rebuilding the franchise’s foundation around Matt Ryan, and rebuilding his quarterback’s promise in the process.

This prompted a round of conversation among the TGS staff, centered around this question: “If you were Thomas Dimitroff, what would be the first move you’d make to fix your team?”

Derek_Pease
Derek Pease:

After watching the Falcons essentially take a page out of the Rams playbook on Sunday, dinking and dunking their way down the field, I am not sure why they did not take the reins off of Ryan and his receivers. If you’re going to give up so much for them… use them.

Aside from that it was evident, as it was in their most recent match-up with the Saints, that Michael Turner does not have the burst needed to get to the line quickly enough in those short yardage situations. The Falcons offensive line took a hit when they lost guard Harvey Dahl in the off season and Turner did not show the ability to make up for or hide the deficiency of the new line.

They also need to find a way to shore up that defense. There are a few play makers back there and potential pro-bowler in waiting Sean Weatherspoon, but if they do not find a suitable replacement for aging Jon Abraham, Brees and Newton will continue to run over them for years to come.

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shane_clemons_100Shane Clemons:

The Falcons had me confused when they shot up the draft board for Julio Jones, and I wondered last April if they were sliding into that “one player away” mentality. The fact is that they’re not one player away by any stretch.

The most disturbing facet of their wildcard loss was that they couldn’t score offensively, and that ultimately falls on Matt Ryan’s shoulders. I’m not saying that he’s the wrong guy for the job, but I am saying that he has a lot of work to do before we can consider him part of the elite quarterbacks club. His numbers against the Giants weren’t terrible, but they weren’t remarkable either.

At this point, I think the Falcons need to switch from a building mode to a maintenance mode in terms of roster moves. They’re still a developing team. Good coaching and time are the two most important ingredients that they need to focus on.

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lawrence_dushenski_100Lawrence Dushenski:

Dimitroff needs to keep his defense intact, and do his best to add some pieces to it. Curtis Lofton, Brent Grimes and John Abraham are all free agents after this season, and if any of them leave they will leave gaping holes in their already porous defence.

Sean Weatherspoon is emerging as an elite linebacker, but Lofton is the veteran presence in the corps. Youngster Peria Jerry has yet to find his place in the league, which makes Abraham that much more valuable to the team.

Signing a big name free agent like Mario Williams would obviously be a great addition, but for more Dimitroff needs to look at the guys he has on his team now and do his best to keep them in town

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bio_tomThomas Gower:

The examination needs to start with the offensive line. Garrett Reynolds was a disaster at right guard. Joe Hawley was better, but still a big downgrade from Harvey Dahl. Left tackle is also a trouble spot, as 2008 first-round pick Sam Baker was eventually benched in favor of Will Svitek. Is Baker salvageable? Is Svitek a long-term answer? Is Hawley or Reynolds the answer at right guard next year? The answer to each of these questions looks like “No,” but the Falcons need at least one “Yes” or else they’ll have to go spend money in free agency and/or high draft picks on finding answers.

The broader issue is, what kind of offense are the Falcons, and what kind of offense do they want to be? From 2008 to 2010 (the most successful three-year run in franchise history), they looked like a power-running team. The draft-day trade to get Julio Jones was generally taken to mean a shift in the offensive identity toward a team more oriented around an explosive passing attack.

The problem is, Matt Ryan, at least right now, isn’t the right triggerman for that kind of explosive passing attack. He’s primarily a pre-snap read and execute quarterback who has trouble finding good second options. The Falcons are hoping he shows the development Eli Manning has, to where pre-snap read and then execution is the strongest part of his game, but he’s still capable, as he showed against the Falcons on Sunday, of improvising when necessary. The problem is, Manning has the arm to threaten defenses vertically. As Roddy White pointed out, though, Ryan has not shown that ability.

The Falcons are thus at a bit of a crossroads. The offensive line requires upgrades in any event. If they want to continue with their run-heavy orientation, they need another back who can take some or ideally all of the load off the shoulders of a fading Michael Turner. If they want to be a pass-heavier team, then, well, the only thing they can do is cross their fingers and hope Matt Ryan takes the steps he needs.

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Will Horton:

My first thought was this: Just as they built their offensive success on a Steelers blueprint of the past, the Falcons could be well served to borrow from Pittsburgh’s updated offensive model, which features a more potent downfield passing game and a stable of cheap power backs that can be used pretty much interchangeably.

However, if I take Tom’s points to heart, perhaps the best way to take advantage of Ryan’s skillset is to bring mad Mike Martz into town.

Martz excels at creating downfield mismatches, and would have by far the best receiving tandem to work with since his days with the GSOT Rams. Ryan may not be the second coming of Kurt Warner, but his arm and smarts are certainly equal or better compared to a young Marc Bulger.

If Martz is step one, though step two has to be in the offensive line. Otherwise, Ryan may not live to see year six of his contract.

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